Stalk rots complex diseases related to kind of animal manure and insecticide and its effect on the quality of maize grains

Maize genotypes' reactions against stalk rot causal organisms showed that the lowest disease incidence was recorded in cases fertilized by decomposing animal manure (7-8 weeks old) and insect control, compared with those fertilized by fresh animal manure and no insect control. The highest percent of insect infection as well as the highest lodging percent were recorded in soil treated with fresh manure with no insect control. The weight of 100 kernels decreased as well as the yield per two rows with plots treated with fresh animal manure and no insect control. Maize hybrids single cross 10 (SC10) had a suitable level of resistance to tested diseases and recorded a lower infection percent of tested diseases, higher values of weight of 100 kernels, and higher yield per tested row than those recorded with the tested open-pollinated variety (Balady). Fresh animal manure resulted in increasing disease severity for each tested disease, indicating the danger of farmers fertilizing their farms with fresh animal manure before storing it for a few weeks. The obtained results also illustrated high germination percent and high grain component percent, i.e., protein, oil, ash, fiber, carbohydrates, and phenols, in all grains collected from plots that were fertilized by stored animal manure (7-8 weeks old) and sprayed against insects, as compared with the control treatment. Overall, this study never recommended the use of fresh farmyard animal manure before storing it for at least 7-8 weeks for fertilization of the soil. All in all, true disease control, the lowest kernel rot diseases, and high quantitative and qualitative yields per 2 rows were obtained from the plots sprayed with insecticide and fertilized by stored animal manure (decomposing animal manure). In short, the study found that using decomposing animal manure (7-8 weeks old) and insect control is the best way to prevent stalk rot diseases in maize. Fresh animal manure should not be used, as it can increase the severity of the diseases.